USD coach hopes players resist draft’s siren song

MAJOR LEAGUE DRAFT

The three-day “first-year player” draft begins today at 4 p.m., although only the first and supplemental first rounds (50 picks altogether) will be held today. Rounds 2-30 are Tuesday and rounds 31-50 (teams may stop earlier if they wish) on Wednesday. Players from the United States, U.S. territories and Canada are subject to the draft. Eligible for selection are high school seniors, junior college players, juniors and seniors at four-year colleges and players who have turned 21. Teams have until Aug. 15 to sign players before losing their draft rights.

DRAFT COVERAGE

•The MLB Network will televise the first round, which also will be simulcast live at mlb.com. Secondday coverage will switch to mlb.com/Live.

•Pick-by-pick coverage is available at mlb.com as well as XM Satellite Radio.

•Another good source info and analysis is at baseballamerica.com

TOP LOCAL PROSPECTS

College

Vance Albitz, SS, UCSD

Kyle Blair, RHP, USD

A.J. Griffin, RHP, USD

Nick Longmire, OF, Pacific (Grossmont High)

James Meador, OF, USD

Addison Reed, RHP, SDSU

Sammy Solis, LHP, USD

Matt Thomson, RHP, USD

Cory Vaughn, OF, SDSU

Zach Walters, SS, USD

High School

Ruddy Acosta, RHP, Mount Miguel

Chase Johnson, RHP, Fallbrook

Conor Hofmann, OF, St. Augustine

Max MacNabb, LHP, La Costa Canyon

Wynston Sawyer, C, Scripps Ranch

Aaron Siliga, OF, Oceanside

Will Swanner, C, La Costa Canyon

Brett Thomas, OF, Poway

Trevor Williams, RHP, RB

Tony Wolters, SS, RB Vista

KIRK KENNEY

USD coach Rich Hill points with pride to the fact that the Toreros landed more recruits off the prestigious 2009 Aflac All-American team than any school in the nation.

And Hill turns to a PowerPoint presentation to persuade them — and other Toreros recruits — to choose college instead of signing pro contracts. At least out of high school.

The three-day draft begins this afternoon. It is like Christmas in June for 1,500 amateur players. It is like April 15 for college coaches — very taxing.

Hill and his assistants are among an increasing number of coaches who have compiled plenty of information to make their case more persuasive.

“It’s using college as a path to the big leagues, as opposed to the low minors,” Hill said. “There’s everything that college provides these guys in terms of social maturity and physical development.”

For many players, the allure of pro ball is too strong. And for players like Rancho Bernardo’s Cole Hamels (with Philadelphia) and Mt. Carmel’s Eric Chavez (with Oakland), the most direct route paid off.

“It puts a player three years closer to their goal,” said a local National League scout, noting that players can’t be drafted until after their junior year if they go to a four-year college.

Added the scout: “There’s very limited scholarships, and most (signing) bonuses include a college fund.”

But Hill has a compelling case for furthering one’s education, with reams of statistics to back him up. A sampling:

•Looking at 40-man major league rosters from June 1, 2009, of the drafted players on rosters, 66 percent attended college and 31 percent signed out of high school.